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Interview of Roberto GANGANELLI member of the consultative numismatic counsil of the Vatican
Interview for “Amis de l’€uro” – March 2013
Dr. Roberto Ganganelli – “Il giornale della numismatica” – Editor in chief
What is the procedure for deciding Vatican Numismatic emissions?
At the end of every year, the Ufficio filatelico e numismatico (Vatican stamps and coins office) predisposes a numismatic calendar for the upcoming year related to some subjects and some important events for the Holy Seat and the Vatican State (for exemple the World Youth Day or the World Peace Day), anniversaries and so on.
The numismatic program for the upcoming year includes suggestions and subject proposed by the Consulta numismatica (the Vatican numismatic consulting committee) in order to make Vatican coins more various and attractive for coin dealers and collectors.
Then, the year program is approved or modified by the Cardinal President of Vatican Governatorato. At that moment, artists selected by UFN go on with sketches and models that are then approved for striking.
Finally, the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (Italian State Mint) provides to make punches and dies, to strike and pack coins. In accordance to international laws and agreements between Vatican and European Union, half of minted face value is put in circulation (50 eurocents coins).
Has the committee been implemented during the euro changeover or did it already exist before?
No, the Vatican numismatic committee was born in 2009 thanks to Dr. Pier Paolo Francini, former Director of UFN. The committee remain in office for three years, then it is confirmed or partially renewd. The present committee is chaired by Dr. Mauro Olivieri, present Director of UFN.
What is its composition?
At present, the committe is composed by Renato Vigezzi (representing Italian State Mint), Alessio Anfossi (President of Intercoins, an Italian coin dealing company), Pier Paolo Francini (former Director of UFN), Hans-Henning Goehrum (President of the World Money Fair), Umberto Moruzzi (coin dealer), Giancarlo Alteri (Director of Vatican Coin Cabinet) and Roberto Ganganelli (numismatic expert and journalist).
The Vatican press office announced the very next issue of a € 2 commemorative "Sede Vacante" with a mintage of 125.000 coins? Was it the choice of numismatic council of the Vatican?
Vacant Seat coins will be probably released at the end of May. First one will be a 2 euro struck with a mintage of 125.000: 6.000 will be put in circulation, 8.000 will be packed in a philatelic & numismatic envelope together with Vacant Seat stamps and 111.000 will be distributed in the usual blister pack. The national side of this coin will show the Camerlengo coat of arms (Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone) and inscripion SEDE VACANTE 2013.
There will be also a 5 euro silver coin struck in 10.000 pieces, and a brand new 10 euro gold coin produced in only 5.000 pieces for the world market. Both the coins will show Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone coat of arms on one side and the dove of Holy Spirit on the other. The 5 euro coin will be a 18 grams and 32 mm coin (925/1000), the gold coin will weight only 3 grams (900/1000) with a size of 13,85 mm.
The Vatican numismatic committee had no influence in Vacant Seat coins, mainly due to the short time between Benedetto XVI’s resignation and starting of Vacant Seat. The UFN followed directly the coins’ creation and, in my opinion, did a very good job!
Will the annual series be issued with the portrait of the new Pope? If not, will a specific numismatic issue take place with the new pope portrait in the 2013 Vatican numismatic plan?
Between May and June – but we still don’t know the exact date – 2013 year series of Benedetto XVI will be regularly issued, with no modifications of mintage. Only two coins will be partially modified, the 20 euro in silver and the 50 euro in gold included in proof packs. The year of pontificate will be deleted and collectors will find only the date MMXIII.
The new Pope will issue commemorative coins, probably in the second half of the year. Maybe the main subjects will remain the same. The only adjustments will regard portrait and coat of arms of the Pope.
A second € 2 coin commemorating the pontificate of Benedict XVI will be issued by the Vatican, have you specific details about it (designer, quantities…)?
At the moment, both the 2 euro coins for 2013 are scheduled: the first one for Vacant Seat, the second one for the Brazialian edition of World Youth Day. We really don’t know if the upcoming Pope will decide some changes on the coin program, but usually he tends to confirm previous choices.
Will the Vatican issue bimetallic coins for collectors, in silver and niobium, for instance? Has this been mentioned?
The Vatican is going on with a real “numismatic revolution” this year, striking two coins with no religious subjects: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. It’s the first time since 1929, when the Stato della Città del Vaticano was born.
At the moment, no special bimetallic coin has been scheduled. Many ideas have been proposed and discussed, but you have always to think that Vatican coins are very special, maybe unique in the world: they must, of course, have a look at the market but, first of all, they have to join the millenary tradition of Catholic Church with modern communication, art and technical innovation. And it’s not so easy to be done.
Source: AD€ - interview realized by the board of AD€ March, the 13th 2013.